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Resolution Conf. 10.12 (Rev.)*

Conservation of sturgeons

AWARE that sturgeons (Acipenseriformes) represent a very valuable renewable biological and economic resource;

RECOGNIZING that in recent years their numbers and status have been affected by such negative factors as regulation of water flow, decrease in natural spawning sites, poaching and illegal trade in sturgeon caviar and other specimens;

AWARE also that some range States are not yet party to CITES and that this fact could adversely affect the conservation of sturgeons;

NOTING that more scientific studies are urgently needed in order to assess the sustainability of sturgeon fisheries management;

CONSIDERING that Eurasian range States of sturgeons are in need of funds in order to develop management programmes for sturgeon conservation;

THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION

URGES the range States of species in the order Acipenseriformes to:

a) encourage scientific research particularly in the Eurasian region to promote the sustainability of sturgeon fisheries through management programmes;

b) curtail the actual illegal fishing and export of sturgeon specimens by improving the enforcement of existing laws regulating fisheries and export in close contact with the CITES Secretariat, ICPO-Interpol and the World Customs Organization;

c) explore ways of enhancing the participation of representatives of all agencies responsible for sturgeon fisheries in conservation and sustainable-use programmes for these species; and

d) promote regional agreements between range States of sturgeon species aiming at proper management and sustainable utilization of sturgeons;

RECOMMENDS:

a) that Parties provide the Secretariat with copies of applicable legislation on CITES, including legislation on sturgeon species, particularly referring to the export of personal effects (property);

b) that range States inform the Secretariat about legal exporters of sturgeon parts and derivatives;

c) that importing countries be particularly vigilant in controlling the unloading of sturgeon specimens;

d) that Parties ensure that all their relevant agencies cooperate in establishing the necessary organization, scientific and control mechanisms needed to implement the provisions of the Convention with respect to the sturgeon, and in any projects designed to conserve sturgeon species;

e) that Parties consider the harmonization of their national legislation related to personal exemptions for caviar, to allow for the personal effects exemption under Article VII, paragraph 3, and consider limiting this exemption to no more than 250 g per person;

f) that range States of sturgeon species included in Appendix II in accordance with Article II, paragraph 2 (a), consider the feasibility of establishing annual export quotas for sturgeon specimens and, if they are established, communicate such quotas to the Secretariat;

g) that Parties monitor the storage, processing and re-packaging of sturgeon specimens in Customs free zones and free ports, and for airline and cruise line catering;

h) that the Secretariat, in consultation with the Animals Committee, explore the development of a uniform marking system for sturgeon parts and derivatives and aquaculture stocks to assist in subsequent identification of the species while consulting with appropriate experts in fisheries, aquaculture and industry, and particularly in collaboration with range States; and

i) that the Animals Committee consider the trade in sturgeon specimens in the context of the review of significant trade, pursuant to Resolution Conf. 8.9 (Rev.); and

DIRECTS the Secretariat:

a) in collaboration with range States and international organizations from both industry and the conservation community, to assist with the development of a strategy including action plans for the conservation of Acipenseriformes; and

b) for that purpose, to seek financial assistance from Parties, international organizations, United Nations Specialized Agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and industry.

 

 

* Amended at the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties